CONTENTS
Space-Industry Partnership
One of the important features of the Indian Space Programme, since its inception has been the cooperative approach with, Indian industries. Guided by the objective of achieving self-reliance in space technology, this partnership has been carefully nurtured through several initiatives and cooperative ventures. As a result, DOS has established linkages with more than 500 industries in small, medium and large scale sectors, either through procurement contracts, know-how transfers or provision of technical consultancy. Through its association with the space programme, the space industry is now capable of meeting the challenges, in terms of adopting advanced technologies or handling complex manufacturing jobs.
Industry Participation Policy
DOS has, over the years,
established a capability to design, develop and build space infrastructure
like the INSAT and IRS satellite systems, launch vehicles like PSLV and
GSLV as well as associated ground systems. There has been a substantial
growth in the use of space infrastructure making it necessary to produce
space systems and establish associated ground facilities in an industrial
environment. During the year, DOS has formulated an Industry Participation
Policy to set the modalities for identification of industries, commitment
from DOS to these industries, utilisation of human resources and
facilities available within the DOS, incentives for industries to promote
space technology, etc. The policy is expected to aid in the growth of
space industry in the country while allowing DOS to focus on advanced
research and development activities.
Technology Transfer
So far, 245 technologies have been
transferred to industries for commercialisation and 185 technical
consultancies have been provided in different disciplines of space
technology. During the year, the technologies licensed to industries for
commercialisation, include synchronous data link controller, chromium
black coating process for fabrication of precision optical masks, opto-electronic
apparatus for static and dynamic measurements and PC-based accessories
for synchronous data transmission. A few technologies including
technologies of OLFEX – for oil fires and TEC powder for extinguishing
metal fires and PARAS Software have been
licensed to few more entrepreneurs.
Few more technologies are in the advanced stage of licensing. Industries have been identified for these and licensing agreements are in the advanced stages of finalisation. The technologies are: ceramic resonator oscillator, pressure transducers, nickel-cadmium batteries, burst demodulator, EPLD based scrambler, carbon cloth, de-scrambler, differential encoder and FEC encoder etc.
There has been a considerable progress on the technologies that have been licensed, so far. Production of conformal coating unit, licensed to a private industry last year has been completed. ISROFLEX heaters produced by the licensee have gone through successful batch qualification tests. The development of radial elastomeric bearings has progressed substantially. The first flight model version of polyurethane lined sonar funnel has been supplied. Clinical trials and evaluation of acramid prosthodontics have been initiated with dental firms all over India.
Intellectual Property Rights
In tune with the international developments, DOS continues its efforts towards safeguarding the technologies and products developed in its Centres. Scientists and engineers at all DOS Centres are being encouraged to patent their innovations.
Towards this a number of workshops, training programmes, tutorials, lectures, etc, have been organised. DOS participated in the national seminar on the "Challenges of the new IPR regime and need for new strategies for R&D management" held at Thiruvananthapuram in April 2001. DOS is also maintaining regular interactions with national agencies and other associated agencies to keep abreast of the developments in the area of IPR.
Duing the year, the efforts put in towards managing IPR activities have resulted in an increase of patent applications filed by DOS Centres in areas covering mechanical, chemical, electronics, etc. DOS patent portfolio now consists of 122 patents filing of which 59 patents and 5 copyrights have been granted.
The following patents were granted during the year:
• Improved Universal Testing Machine
• An improved process for providing dielectric substrates with multi-layer anti-reflector coatings
• Improved impact testing
machine for measuring dynamic fracture toughness
of engineering materials
DOS has also participated actively in the international fora and provided technical support in the deliberations related to Intellectual Property Rights to safeguard ISRO’s interest.
Market Survey and System Studies
During the year, economic analysis,
study and market survey assignments have been carried out for technologies
that have apparently good prospects. Prominent amongst these are
• Studies on improving
the reach and penetration of National (Natural) Resources Information
System (NRIS) among potential user community
• Approach for vendor/industry development for commercialisation of remote sensing
• Study on issues
related to the non-absorption of precipitated silica technology by the
various licensees
•
Conceptualisation of a national system for disaster management issue
related
to organisational design and strategic management
•
Comparative analysis of space policies of different nations,
satellite/launcher manufacturing
policy, etc.
Technology Consultancy
The technical consultancy scheme
seeks to share with industries and Research & Development
institutions, technological expertise and infrastructure developed by DOS.
Since its inception, more than 185 consultancy projects have been
undertaken in various areas covering chemicals, remote sensing,
electronics, etc. Using the special test facilities at various DOS Centres,
a number of assignments were taken up for testing and qualification of
hardware and subsystems for industries and other R&D institutions.
During the year, more than
ten consultancy projects were taken up, mainly relating to remote sensing
applications. Significant among them are authentication of Coastal
Regulation Zone (CRZ) maps for Surat District, Sikka area in Jamnagar
dist., Kandla, etc, and preparation of Draft development plans for Bhachau
town, Sangli, Miraj & Kupawada Municipal Corpn. ISRO has entered into
MOUs with a number of industries for joint developments in IT based SATCOM
applications for e-governance and e-education, disaster management and
software development and other IT-based activities with special focus on
eastern and north eastern states of the country. Development of stereo
vision software for IRS-1C/1D, experiments for digital sound and data
broadcasting based Braille content distribution system, etc, are some of
the other
joint projects.
To cater to long-term requirements, specific consultancy agreements have also been entered into for producing heat pipes. Another significant agreement is the long term co-operation for black chrome coating process technology to meet DOS long term requirement for coating of sensors.
Technology Utilisation and
Vendor Development
It has been DOS endeavour to strive for a close partnership with the Indian industries for maximal utilisation of the industrial capability. Over the years, the industry involvement has been steadily increasing, with industries being associated in the fabrication of hardware for satellites, launch vehicles and in the building of ground infrastructure, as well as the system level fabrication and integration activities, either independently or through a consortium. One of the important project being executed by a consortium of industries is the second launch pad at SHAR Centre which is an example of industries pooling in their resources together to execute a complex job.
DOS continues to source its requirement of hardware, structural subassemblies, light alloy structures, thermal control systems for satellites, solid state power amplifiers for spacecraft payload, propellants, etc, through Indian industries. DOS requirement of rocket propellants solid and liquid propellants, oxidizer for the liquid stages of PSLV and INSAT propulsion system and other materials such as carbon cloth etc, continue to be met by industries.
Good progress has been made during the year in developing industry capability in communication payload subsystems such as invar demux filter assemblies and C-band receivers. Under a contract signed with a Public Sector Company, fabrication, assembly and testing of DEMUX filters assemblies has been taken up. A plan has been drawn up to establish an integrated propulsion tank manufacturing facility with Indian industries. Industries have also been supplying parts for pressure vessels for satellite propellant tanks. A second source for the machining of pressure vessel parts of satellite propellant tanks has been successfully established.
Several industries are participating in the activities associated with MSS Reporting System, fabrication of light weight GPS Integrated Reporting Terminals (RT), RTs for Fleet Management application and Message Generator for fixed MSS RT and fabrication of ground equipment for IRS-P6 satellite checkout. A number of industries across the country have provided support through development and supply of hardware for ground systems and payload activities. Vendors are also being developed for electronic and mechanical fabrication and allied services through long-term cooperative agreements. After the initial screening, vendors are qualified through provision of dedicated training and tests on high-reliability soldering techniques. Subsequently, the services are utilised for electronic fabrication and assembly. A training course on High reliability (Hi Rel) PCB wiring and assembly and on semigrid cable assemblies were organised in January and May 2001 for industry personnel.
Export Promotion
In its pursuit of marketing the
space products and services, Antrix Corporation of DOS has been making
rapid strides in the export market. Various initiatives taken by Antrix
have resulted in the steady growth and increasing export turnover of the
company. In recognition of its performance, Antrix has been awarded the
Trophy for Top Exporter under the category of "Exporters of
Engineering Consultancy, Technical know-how and Other Engineering
Services", for the year 1999-2000.
This is the fourth year that Antrix was given this export award. The mainstay of Antrix activities continues to be the international marketing of remote sensing data from the IRS constellation of satellites through the marketing tie-up with Space Imaging, USA. Customers across the globe are encouraged to receive, process, store and/or market IRS Data products. As a consequence, the global network of ground stations capable of accessing IRS data is expanding. Presently, stations located at Oklahama and Alaska (USA), Neustralitz (Germany), Japan, UAE, Korea, Ecuador, Thailand, are receiving IRS data, while many more are in the pipeline for receiving and processing IRS data. Proposals are on hand for extending IRS Ground Station network to Argentina, Myanmar, China, etc. In addition, two more mobile ground stations are in the pipeline. Access is also being provided to data from India’s first oceanographic satellite IRS-P4 to international customers. Further, efforts are on to expand the access to IRS data through low cost ground terminals. Various IRS specific hardware and software items are also being supplied to international users. Apart from the IRS data, Antrix caters to the market requirements for high-resolution data through the IKONOS of USA for specific user requirements.
Antrix provided IRS data reception software to ground stations in Myanmar and Canada. Installation has been completed with the successful testing of the station to receive IRS data. Antrix has also been working with a Russian company on a low cost IRS data receiving station. The T&E of this station has been successfully carried out with a 2.6m diameter antenna and data of IRS LISS camera was received in X band successfully.
A significant activity completed during the year is the fabrication, integration, testing and installation of antennas and ground telemetry systems for a national aerospace agency and an R and D institution. Antrix also delivered sun sensors and special purpose high-reliability connectors to international space agencies, during the year.
Antrix has received the "Acceptance to Proceed" from a Japanese space company for the supply of Sail/boom, identical to the INSAT-3A Sail/boom except for the length.
There is now a growing recognition of the Antrix capability to provide satellite ground TTC and Initial Orbit Test services through the existing network of ground stations. Besides supporting the In-Orbit Test for PANAMSAT, Antrix also supported some of the DLR missions. Antrix/DOS has an excellent cooperation with DLR for TTC Network Support during mutual launches. Within the framework of this agreement, support for the W24-F4 and W1R missions of EUTELSAT was provided, through the network of ground stations at Bangalore and Mauritius. Agreements are being finalised with DLR for supporting the fifth and sixth missions of EUTELSAT- viz., HOTBIRD - 6 and W24/Ku24. The support would be provided from the Bangalore Ground Station.
Antrix continues to provide
operational and maintenance support for the World Space TCR
earth station along with S-band support, as and when required.
Antrix foray into the satellite launcher area has been firmly established with the success of the PSLV-C3 mission, which orbited three different payloads into the intended orbits. While the TES and BIRD (Bispectral and Infrared Remote Detection) satellites were placed in the 568 km sun-synchronous orbit, PROBA (Project for On Board Autonomy) was placed in an elliptical orbit. The higher orbit for PROBA was achieved by firing the reaction control thrusters of PSLV-C3 fourth stage. The PSLV-C3 is a fairly improved version of the earlier mission in that the lightweight fourth stage (PS4) tank was introduced for a better vehicle performance and employs the European Ariane Compatible Separation system for auxiliary satellites. In view of the successful launch and the precise injection of the respective satellites, customers have reiterated their commitment for further cooperation. The successful piggyback launch missions have generated interest for launch services from the international community. Antrix has been receiving enquiries for provision of such services. Techno-commercial proposals have been provided and response is awaited.
Antrix is also exploring the market for telecommunication satellite for private sector service providers. Technical consultancies are being provided to a few Indian companies for satellite projects aimed at owning and launching a satellite as an Indian registered satellite system. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with a Malaysian company for increased collaboration, including possible use of ISRO’s PSLV/GSLV launch services for their satellite, development of satellite, consultancy and training services. Apart from this, expert services continue to be provided to various international customers for consultancies pertaining to telecommunication satellites, transponder services, radio frequency interference testing, In orbit tests, orbit spectrum usage analysis, etc. The digital video test services to characterise the performance of the Ku-band transponders on Panamsat’s PAS-7 spacecraft was successfully conducted and concluded, using the Ku-band earth station at MCF. Advanced facilities for vibration and acceleration testing have also been extended to various customers.
